Technology
Is the FTC calling you? Probably not. Here's how to avoid a phone scam targeting you
Just when you thought phone scams couldn’t get any trickier, there’s another one out there that you must watch out for.
And this one is even more sophisticated because the government agency you’re meant to report these types of scams to – the FTC – is being impersonated.
Woman on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
One reason this impersonation has been on the rise is the progression of artificial intelligence.
AI voice-over tools and deep-fake technology make it even easier for impersonators to commit crimes. But you can protect yourself. Here’s what you need to know.
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What is the FTC impersonation scam?
Like a phishing scam, the FTC impersonation scam involves scammers pretending to be Federal Trade Commission employees calling your number and trying to convince you to wire money to them. These scammers have become very clever in how they target their victims.
First, they may spoof an FTC phone number so that when your phone rings, and you see your caller ID, it says FTC and/or a title related to a government agency.
Next, the scammer may impersonate an actual FTC employee. So, when you ask for their name to check whether or not it’s a scam (which you should always do!), your quick internet search will reveal an actual FTC employee. While checking whether or not this is an actual scam, some victims might not think twice after checking this.
Finally, they’ll tell you that you owe money to them. While it’s not clear exactly what they are saying – perhaps they are telling you that you owe an invoice, debt or a fine – some scammers even tell you to send money in other peculiar ways, such as going to Bitcoin ATMs or withdrawing cash to pay them in person.
These scams have been successful, and this year, the median loss per call has risen to $7,000.
SCAMMERS ARE USING FAKE NEWS, MALICIOUS LINKS TO TARGET YOU IN AN EMOTIONAL FACEBOOK PHISHING TRAP
Man on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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What the FTC and FBI are doing about it
Now, the FTC is catching onto these scams, warning and educating the public, and cracking down on perpetrators.
To start, the FTC said in a press release that it “will never send consumers to a Bitcoin ATM, tell them to go buy gold bars, or demand they withdraw cash and take it to someone in person.” The agency added that it will “never contact consumers to demand money, threaten to arrest or deport them, or promise a prize.”
Secondly, due to public outcry against AI and the increase in the number of complaints to the FBI, the FTC is working with the government to utilize tools to “detect, deter, and to catch these impersonators” while proposing strict legislation that would ban government and impersonation fraud, thereby “enabling the FTC to directly file federal court cases aimed at forcing scammers to return the money they made from government or business impersonation scams.”
How to keep yourself safe
1. Stay updated: The first step in protecting yourself from government impersonation fraud is simply being educated about it. Keep yourself updated about these scams and other scams by reading the news and subscribing to sites like Cyberguy. Again, the FTC reports that it will never call you and ask you to wire money in any way, shape or form, so if you get a call from them or another government agency asking for this, it’s a scam.
But due to the 22% increase in reported losses to online crime compared to 2022 based on the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report, they’re proposing other strategies to keep yourself safe from scams by following the tips we list below:
2. Stay calm: If you think a scammer is calling you, it’s important to stay calm and not let yourself get emotional. It’s very easy to get worked up when you’re in the middle of this situation. If it happens, you can always say you will get back to them and hang up the phone. If they become aggressive and try to exploit you, tell them you will report them and hang up.
3. Cautionary note: Do not contact unknown telephone numbers provided in pop-ups, texts or emails.
4. Safety reminder: Do not download software at the request of unknown individuals who contact you.
5. Security precaution: Do not allow unknown individuals access to your computer.
6. Don’t click that link: Do not click on unsolicited pop-ups on your computer, links sent via text messages or email links and attachments.
7. Have good antivirus software: As scammers weaponize AI and deep-fake technologies, robust antivirus software becomes your first line of defense. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may access your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.
Woman on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MORE: HOW A FLAW IN IPHONE’S SECURITY COULD LEAVE YOU LOCKED OUT
Kurt’s key takeaways
Scammers will continue finding new ways to prey on their victims, and AI has made it easier for them to do so. One of the major concerns about AI is that it will progress faster than agencies like the FTC and FBI can keep up with. Therefore, it is important to take measures to protect yourself and avoid falling victim.
Have you ever received a suspicious call or encountered an impersonation attempt? How did you handle it? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
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When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro heard Google was gobbling up public land to fuel its data centers in her home state, she didn’t initially know what to believe. “There’s a lot of misinformation about data centers,” she said. “Google has denied taking that land.”
Technically, she explains, The Dalles, a city near the Washington state border, sought to reclaim that land, “and Google is just a big, unnamed power user.” The city had in fact asked for ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needs access to Mount Hood’s watershed to meet municipal needs as its population — 16,010 as of the 2020 census — grows. But critics, including environmentalists, say the city is trying to secure more water for Google, which has a sprawling data center campus in The Dalles that already consumes about one-third of the city’s water supply.
This controversy made Reksopuro curious about the backlash to data centers being built in other communities. So Reksopuro, a student at the University of Washington who studies the connections between tech and public policy, decided to map it out. Using information collected by Epoch AI and data scraped from legislation on data centers, she built an interactive map tracking AI policy around the world. She designed it to be simple enough for anyone to use. “I wanted it to be something that my younger sisters could play through and explore to understand what are the data centers in the area and what’s actually being done about it,” Reksopuro said. She hoped to shift their opinions that way, “instead of like, through TikTok.”
Four times a day, the map searches for new sources and checks them against the existing database Reksopuro built out. “Once it does that, it will write a new summary, add it to the news feed, and populate it on the sidebar,” she said. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student.”
Reksopuro isn’t against data centers, but she thinks tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency around data center policies. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”
UCF commencement speaker Gloria Caulfield (University of Central Florida via Storyful)
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Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– UCF graduates clobber commencement speaker with boos after she says AI is the ‘next Industrial Revolution’
– OPINION: DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: We brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age
– OpenAI backs creation of global AI governance body led by the U.S. that would include China as a member
TOUGH CROWD: During a recent commencement ceremony at the University of Central Florida, a speaker was met with loud boos from the graduating class after declaring that artificial intelligence represents the next industrial revolution. Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI’s growing footprint in daily life.
A statue on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. (iStock)
BADGE MEETS BYTE: Reflecting on the modernization of national security in a Fox News op-ed, FBI Director Kash Patel explores how the bureau must adapt its strategies to address modern threats and advance beyond the artificial intelligence age.
TECH DIPLOMACY: OpenAI is throwing its support behind the establishment of a new global artificial intelligence governance organization that would be led by the United States while notably including China as a member. Fox News Digital reporting examines the geopolitical dynamics and regulatory implications of this proposed framework as global powers race to set the standards for AI development.
EQUITY ELEVATION: The massive wave of wealth generated by the explosive growth of ChatGPT and the broader AI industry is driving a sudden surge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s luxury real estate market. Fox News Digital reporting breaks down how the influx of new tech capital is reshaping local housing dynamics and fueling a high-end property frenzy.
FBI Director Kash Patel listened as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
STRATEGY RESET: Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fox News Digital reporting details the corporate restructuring and broader economic trends pushing legacy tech firms to aggressively pivot toward AI.
ROAD HAZARD: Waymo is issuing a sweeping recall of its autonomous vehicle fleet following a concerning incident that highlighted significant safety issues with the self-driving technology. Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.
BOTS IN THE BAY: A newly developed, artificial intelligence-powered robot has been engineered to seamlessly change and balance vehicle tires without human intervention. Fox News Digital reporting showcases this latest innovation, exploring how automation and AI mechanics could soon revolutionize the automotive service and repair industry.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
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Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.
In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.
Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.
You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.
Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”
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